The Test Ends, Jiraiya... You Scoundrel!

Following the first combat test of Qi Luna's squad, the Third Training Ground was left in complete shambles.

The dust and smoke kicked up during the battle had been entirely dispersed by the repulsive force, revealing Nagato, who was panting heavily in Qi Luna's arms.

His face was pale, clearly exhausted from the recent skirmish, and his Rinnegan held a trace of dazed fatigue from overusing his power.

Konan supported Yahiko, whose chakra had been partially sealed, and looked at the unrecognizable training ground destroyed by Nagato, her heart still racing with lingering fear.

From the woods not far away came a few coughs; Jiraiya brushed the dust and leaves off his body and stepped out from behind a broken tree.

He looked rather disheveled, his red haori torn in several places by branches, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, even carrying a hint of excitement as he stared fixedly at Nagato.

"Big Brother Jiraiya, are you hurt?"

Seeing Jiraiya covered in dirt from head to toe, Qi Luna found it inexplicably amusing, and her honey-sweet lips couldn't help but tease him.

"Hahaha! Nothing major! It's a good thing I summoned a Power Toad in time to cushion the impact, otherwise, I would have really embarrassed myself this time!"

Jiraiya laughed loudly, reaching up to wipe a bit of dust from the corner of his mouth before straightening his clothes, trying his best to look like he was perfectly fine and maintaining an air of having everything under control.

"Kid Nagato, this power of yours... this instinct and decisiveness that erupted in a desperate situation to protect your companions! Not bad! Very good! Truly excellent!"

"It's a pity that Qi Luna is more suited to be your teacher than I am, otherwise I'd really want to take you all as my disciples!"

His gaze swept over the three shaken youths and finally landed on Qi Luna, who was holding Nagato and checking his body while replenishing his chakra. His expression was complex and sentimental, filled with a mix of envy, regret, and pity—it was almost like a pie chart of emotions.

Qi Luna did not respond immediately, instead gently pressing a hand to Nagato's chest, infusing a stream of gentle, life-filled chakra into his body to soothe his exhaustion and the discomfort caused by his chakra overdraft.

Only after detecting that Nagato's bodily functions had returned to normal did Qi Luna look toward Jiraiya and nod slightly, her azure eyes holding a trace of understanding and a subtle, imperceptible relief.

"Although the time isn't up yet, the test results count as a pass. Being able to fight like this against Big Brother Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, is enough to prove your strength."

"But Teacher, wasn't I just getting beaten up? Does that really count as passing the test?"

Yahiko asked, puzzled. In his view, he hadn't performed anything worth praising during today's test.

First, he had been caught by Qi Luna and used as a weapon to knock over Nagato, then he had merely taken a plain, unremarkable hand-chop from Jiraiya, and finally, even after using the Uzumaki Style Taijutsu, he still failed to land a hit on Jiraiya and ended up having his chakra sealed, making it difficult to even move.

"But didn't Yahiko use taijutsu to buy time for your companions to weave signs and release ninjutsu? And just now, even when it was difficult for you to move, you tried your hardest to catch Konan and protect her from harm. That was truly remarkable and very manly!"

Qi Luna looked at her naturally dense younger brother, a gentle smile appearing on her face, though it was quickly replaced by a mischievous smirk:

"So, Yahiko, you'll have to endure like a man for what comes next~"

"Ninja Art: Five Elements Release!"

As she spoke, Qi Luna's palm, glowing with five-element chakra, slammed into Yahiko's body!

"Pwah--!"

Instantly, an indescribable sense of discomfort surged through Yahiko's entire body, as if thousands of horses were galloping in his stomach. His internal organs were racked with sharp pain, and sour gastric juices surged uncontrollably up his throat, erupting from his mouth like a volcanic explosion!

Konan, who had been supporting Yahiko, saw this and the corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily:

"Brother Qi Luna, you're still so mean-spirited..."

"What else can I do? Who told him to get hit by a sealing jutsu? It had to be undone sooner or later anyway, so consider it a lesson. Let's see if he dares to act on pure hot-headedness when facing strong enemies in the future; it's not like I haven't taught him how to counter his opponents!"

Qi Luna spread her hands, doing her best to look innocent and act as if everything she did was for Yahiko's own good in front of her younger sister.

"Since everyone is fine, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll be off; as the captain of the Jonin squad, this Sage is usually very busy..."

With that, Jiraiya turned and walked away, as if he had made up his mind about something!

"Leaving already? Big Brother Jiraiya, why not stay and have a meal together? My treat at Yakiniku Q~"

Watching Jiraiya prepare to leave, Qi Luna, who had received the memories of the shadow clone that had checked on Jiraiya earlier, thought of something and called out to stop him, though there wasn't a shred of sincerity on her face—only malice!

"No, no! You guys go ahead. It's a squad dinner; my presence as an outsider would just ruin the mood! I'll pass! Let's do it another time!"

Faced with Qi Luna's "invitation," Jiraiya didn't dare pause for even a second. His brisk walk gradually turned into a jog, and eventually, he even used the Body Flicker Technique, rushing away from the training ground as if he had something incredibly important to attend to...

"Why is Big Brother Jiraiya in such a rush? Did something happen in the village? Did we take up too much of his time?"

Watching Jiraiya disappear into the distance, Yahiko asked curiously, feeling a touch of gratitude. He thought it was truly great of Jiraiya to help them with their squad test despite being so busy!

"Not really, though you are quite naive, Yahiko..."

Qi Luna pondered for a moment. Thinking of the shadow clone's memory of Jiraiya's comical, grimacing expression after being blasted away by Nagato's Almighty Push, she found it quite funny.

To maintain a glorious image in the eyes of his juniors, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain just to smile at Nagato and the others? Hagi-Jiraiya... you really are something!

"Is it because of my Rinnegan ability? Was Senior Jiraiya hurt?"

Nagato asked bluntly.

"Oh, some things are better left unsaid. Jiraiya-nii just cares a lot about his reputation. You guys know it, so just keep it to yourselves and try not to bring it up when you see him in the future."

"Alright, let's pack up and go eat at Yakiniku Q! You guys are all so skinny, that won't do. If others see you, they'll think our family can't afford to feed you!"

Qi Luna waved her hand, brushing it off with a laugh.

Hearing this, Konan looked puzzled:

"But aren't ninjas supposed to keep in shape to make it easier to carry out missions?"

Qi Luna retorted with a straight face:

"How could that be! Isn't Big Brother Yoshimaru chubby? And he's still a Special Jonin now, isn't he? Plus, his mission completion rate is quite high!"

Yahiko frowned, as if he felt something was not quite right:

"Isn't Big Brother Yoshimaru like this because he's training in the secret techniques of the Akimichi Clan? We..."

No longer dwelling on the issue, Qi Luna began to divert the attention of Yahiko and the other two:

"Iga-ra~ Iga-ra~" (Enough, enough)

"Don't get hung up on the details~"

"Let's hurry to Yakiniku Q; the last one to arrive has to be in charge of the grilling!"

Qi Luna and the three children, Nagato included, chatted back and forth like this, chasing and playing under the afterglow of the setting sun as they headed back toward Konoha Village...